Life is full of stress, work, kids, money, training, etc….. We must find balance between the stresses of life, training, time, environment, structure and health for optimum performance. Additionally, the mental aspect of training and racing is not innate but rather learned. Dealing with the pain of racing, avoiding excessive pre-race jitters, dissuading negative thoughts and not allowing self-doubt to creep in, are all aspects of strong mental fortitude. These traits can be learned and touch all aspects of our lives.